So usually when a debate arises about Calvinism and/or limited attonment someone is sure to quote John 3:16 to refute Calvinisim. John 3:16 and limited attonment do not contradict each other, here's why.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. That whosoever beliveth on him shall not perish but eternal life.
God loves the world doesn't mean Christ died for every person in the world, because world doesn't always mean every person within it. World or kosmos in the Greek has more than one meaning, one of them is the believers only. Another is all nations of the world. If we use the word " world" as meaning everyone and apply it to other verses we see it has multible meanings. Examples- 1 John 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole WORLD lieth in wickedness.
Rev. 13:3 and I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and all the WORLD wondered after the beast.
Scripture tells us who Christ died for.
John 10:15 As the Father knoweth me I know the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
Eph. 5:25 Husbands love your wives even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it.
Limited attonment isn't cruel and doesn't mean God is unloving but shows us how the work of Christ is unfailing and the maximum effect always.
Stay strong in Christ and have a blessed day.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. That whosoever beliveth on him shall not perish but eternal life.
Gods Love revealed.
Gods giving revealed.
Gods
"caveat" revealed.
God loves the world doesn't mean Christ died for every person in the world, because world doesn't always mean every person within it.
Gods IS Love ~ that does not change.
Gods Love for his creations IS constant ~ that does not change
Whether or not God "LIKES" a man ~ is totally dependent upon the man
Scripture NEVER teaches God "LIKES" all of His creations.
Scripture DOES teach God DOES NOT LIKE "corruption".
Scripture teaches God created mankind in His (Gods) LIKEness.
Gods LIKENESS is "GOOD".
Scripture teaches all of Gods creations were created "VERY GOOD".
Scripture teaches "NOT ALL" of Gods creations "remained" VERY GOOD.
Scripture teaches God DOES NOT LIKE what He created that "CHANGED" from being;
....VERY GOOD.
Scripture teaches WHY.
Scripture teaches His creations that changed from being VERY GOOD, have become "CORRUPT".
"CORRUPT" is that creation that became/becomes "NOT GOOD".
A "CORRUPT" thing, can not "PRODUCE" a GOOD THING.
Mankind became corrupt, and produces corrupt things from his corrupt seed.
God presented mankind a WAY, for mankind WHO is "NOT GOOD", to become CHANGED again, and BECOME "Acceptable" unto God.
A man WHO does so, become "Acceptable" unto God. IS a man WHO submits unto God, in the WAY God has provided for the man; and God "CHANGES" the man, according to what God has taught He is willing to "accept" the man.
Mans "submission" of following Gods "WAY"; and Gods "acceptance" of that man;
Is called a man being "reconciled" back to God.
That whosoever beliveth on him
God loves the world doesn't mean Christ died for every person in the world, because world doesn't always mean every person within it.
God is Love.
God Loves all of His creations.
God Sent Christ Jesus into the world, IN a flesh pure holy body, prepared of God.
Mankind of the earth who SAW Christ Jesus, ONLY KNEW Him as JESUS.
God Sent that pure holy body, to be given unto DEATH, "FOR" the life of the world.
The "life of the world" INCLUDES ALL of MANKIND.
(Some of the) Mankind of the earth who SAW Jesus, ALSO came to BELIEVE, that
....that man Jesus, was ALSO the Christ Messiah they had been waiting for.
The Christ Messiah; their Lord God; fulfilling His promise to come among them; to save them from being corrupt; and save them from the world's corruption; and save them UNTO being restored and reconciled back unto their God's LIKENESS.
They came into being the:
whosoever beliveth on him
God loves the world doesn't mean Christ died for every person in the world, because world doesn't always mean every person within it.
EVERY PERSON within the world, is Precisely WHO Jesus died FOR.
Scripture teaches God is LOVE, LOVES His creations and LOVES Himself.
Gods LOVES His Word.
God LOVES His Word He has given to mankind since the beginning of mankind.
God LOVES His Word He called Jesus.
God LOVES His Word He prepared a body for and sent into the world.
God LOVES His Word that mankind Heard, Saw, & Believed/Believes.
God LOVES His Word that GAVE His prepared body (of flesh and blood) FOR: the life of
....the world.
God absolutely GAVE that BODY to His Word, to DIE "for the life of the WHOLE world".
John.6
- [51] I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
Heb.10
- [5] Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
THE FACTS:
He who came down from heaven, IS Jesus.
He who prepared His flesh is God.
He who gave His flesh, IS Jesus.
Who Jesus gave His flesh FOR, IS the life of the world.
He WHO is the life of this world, IS mankind.
THE CAVEAT:
Mankind MUST accept what has been given "FOR" him, before the man himself can become reconciled BACK unto God.
John 6
[54]
Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
The Life of the WHOLE world, (who has become corrupt; called mankind), ALL have an opportunity to LOVE Gods Word. When ANY ONE of mankind LOVES Gods Word; God forgives their "corruption"; and reconciles that man unto Him (God).
The "action" or "lack of action" by a man himself, has nothing to do with WHO Jesus came to give His body for.
Jesus came to give His flesh body FOR ALL of mankind.
Jesus' blood spilled, was for the forgiveness of ALL of mankind.
Salvation IS for ALL of mankind.
However, WE KNOW, not all of mankind WILL reach out and take their Salvation....
And IF a man does NOT reach out and take his salvation, then he loses his Salvation.
That simple.
God Bless.
SBC